In this unit the learners will develop a definition of advocacy. They will become familiar with what motivates people to become advocates as well as identify and evaluate some of the strategies advocates use to promote their cause or the cause of others. They will identify and research local, state, and/or national concerns for humane treatment and animal welfare that call for advocacy intervention and determine what a successful intervention strategy might look like. They will include these strategies in a plan to address their identified local, state, and/or national concern for animal welfare as well as identify ways to encourage others to take up the cause(s). Advocating for the common good is everyone’s responsibility.  Advocacy becomes even more important when those who need or want change cannot speak for themselves – children and animals. This unit focuses on humane treatment and animal welfare to teach advocacy skills.

The learners will use their growing understanding of the nature and necessity of advocacy to seek support for a “cause” to advocate support for an issue. In this lesson, using editorial letter-writing as a strategy is given as an example of what students may choose to do. The learners will supply information to their peers and seek their support for animal welfare cause(s).

Interactive Parent / Student Homework:
Learners are asked to interview family members and/or friends and ask if they have ever advocated for something or if they chose one thing to advocate for, what would it be and share this information in future lessons.

An “Animal Welfare Awareness Week” could be recognized and celebrated
at the school with each learner developing a promotion display “booth” of his/her research and be on hand to “advocate” for his/her “cause”, parents and community could be invited to take part in the event (Extension: Lesson Three).